AustLit

Written sometime around 1897, the libretto for Tapu helped Arthur H. Adams obtain a contract in Australia as J. C. Williamson's literary secretary. Despite his enthusiasm for the opera Williamson did not stage the work himself until 1904, however, and then under controversial circumstances. An early draft of Tapu was, however, staged by the Pollard Opera Company in New Zealand in 1903, and again in Hobart, Tasmania that same year.

When Williamson finally staged the opera himself Adams had already left his employment. Because he owned the rights to the work Williamson engaged David H. Souter to re-work Adams' original story in the romantic opera style. He also had Souter delete a number of scenes containing political and satirical comment. One such scene, for example, contained the lines: 'we will kill and cook Australian politicians who [come] to New Zealand with the intention of running the two countries under one government.' Although these scenes had been written into the libretto by Adams they were not part of his original play. An Age music critic also notes that while 'a broad, caricature of a well-known politician was a leading feature of the show as it was given in New Zealand and in Sydney... all that is changed now as far as possible, in deference probably to Mr Reid's exaltation to the dignified rank of Prime Minister' (22 August 1904. p6). Additional lyrics were also written by Bert Royle for new music composed by Hill.

Although Williamson himself took part credit for the new version, neither Souter's nor Royle's names were included in the advertised credits. The new version, and the way in which it came about, angered Adams and he subsequently raised his objections to the way local writers were mistreated by managers (like Williamson) on several occasions in The Lone Hand and The Theatre. According to John Mansfield Thomson 'in Alfred Hill's eyes the Pollard production of Tapu was [also] the best' (82).